Quezon city: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced that the son of vlogger James Deakin has been apprehended for 'reckless driving' due to an illegal lane change on the Skyway and for driving an unregistered vehicle.

According to Philippines News Agency, LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao explained that the driver was initially stopped by a traffic enforcer who saw him attempting to enter a Skyway exit during heavy traffic after missing the appropriate exit.

The driver entered the exit illegally through a double solid line, causing congestion as he was unable to change lanes immediately. Lacanilao emphasized that missing an exit does not justify violating traffic control markings. The incident raised concerns about safety, given the high-speed nature of vehicles on the Skyway, and Lacanilao noted that the driver was fortunate not to have been involved in a collision.

Additionally, the vehicle involved was unregistered, having only a sales invoice from the importer to the dealer, which Lacanilao stated was insufficient for legal road use. A show-cause order has been issued against the dealership for allowing the vehicle to be driven without the necessary documentation.

Lacanilao clarified that the offenses are considered administrative, not criminal, meaning they do not appear on the driver's permanent record. This response addressed James Deakin's claims that the LTO exaggerated the charges against his son and his complaints about the inability to pay the PHP2,000 fine due to holiday closures.

LTO records indicate that the incident occurred on December 18, with a temporary operator's permit issued at the time of apprehension, giving Deakin's son until December 23 to contest the violation. Lacanilao noted that there was no attempt to contest the ticket within the specified period. He also clarified that traffic tickets must be settled within 15 calendar days from the date of apprehension, not working days.

Deakin had visited the LTO on December 27, which was a Saturday when most government offices were closed. Lacanilao advised motorists to consider holidays and office schedules when fulfilling their obligations within the designated timeframe.